Handle for a concrete screed blade

ABSTRACT

A manual screed assembly has a screed bar assembly, a release assembly releasably coupled to the screed bar assembly, and a handle assembly releasably secured to the quick release assembly.

PRIORITY CLAIM

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to U.S.Provisional Application No. 62/447,118, filed Jan. 17, 2017, which isexpressly incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to the devices for finishing the surfaceof concrete. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to aquick release structure that allows a handle assembly to be removedwithout the use of tools.

Working of large areas of flat concrete while the concrete is still wetor uncured includes placing the wet concrete, striking off or“screeding” the concrete to a particular elevation, and then working ofthe surface of the concrete to establish the finish of the concrete oncethe concrete cures. This process may require the use of variousimplements to achieve the finish required. The use of differentimplements often requires the use of different assemblies as theimplement is secured to the assembly and the implement, or tool, forworking the concrete is integral to the assembly. This requires acontractor to maintain multiple assemblies that are changed during theworking of the uncured concrete.

SUMMARY

The present application discloses one or more of the features recited inthe appended claims and/or the following features which, alone or in anycombination, may comprise patentable subject matter:

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a manual screedassembly comprises a screed bar assembly, a quick release assembly and ahandle assembly. The quick release assembly is releasably coupled to thescreed bar assembly. The quick release assembly permits the removal ofthe quick release assembly from the screed bar assembly without the useof tools. The handle assembly is releasably secured to the quick releaseassembly. The quick release assembly is configured to release the handleassembly to allow the orientation of the handle assembly relative to thequick release assembly to be adjusted without the use of tools.

In some embodiments, the manual screed assembly comprises supports forsupporting weights over the screed bar assembly to vary the downforceapplied to the screed bar assembly.

In some embodiments, the quick release assembly is clamped to the screedbar assembly.

In some embodiments, the quick release assembly is clamped to the screedbar assembly by lever screws.

In some embodiments, the quick release assembly includes a plurality ofslots that engage the lever screws when the lever screws are engagedwith the screed bar assembly.

In some embodiments, the handle assembly includes a crossbar that isengaged with the quick release assembly, the crossbar positioned in atleast one clamp that is manually adjustable, without the use of tools,to clamp the handle assembly relative to the quick release assembly.

In some embodiments, the quick release assembly comprises a plurality ofsupport bases for supporting weights over the screed bar assembly tovary the downforce applied to the screed bar assembly.

In some embodiments, the support bases are configured to removablyreceive additional supports to extend upwardly from the support bases toincrease the capacity of the number of weights that may be position onthe quick release assembly.

Additional features, which alone or in combination with any otherfeature(s), including those listed above and those listed in the claims,may comprise patentable subject matter and will become apparent to thoseskilled in the art upon consideration of the following detaileddescription of illustrative embodiments exemplifying the best mode ofcarrying out the invention as presently perceived.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The detailed description particularly refers to the accompanying figuresin which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a manual screed assembly including aquick release mechanism for quickly connecting a handle assembly to ascreed blade assembly;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a portion of the manual screed assembly ofFIG. 1 with additional weight supports and an additional weight added toincrease the downforce applied to an implement;

FIG. 3 is an exploded assembly view of the manual screed assembly ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the manual screed assembly of FIG. 1 showingthe adjustability of the handle assembly relative to a quick connectassembly;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged side view of a portion of the manual screedassembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a side view similar to FIG. 5, FIG. 6 showing anotherembodiment of a manual screed assembly with a different screed barassembly;

FIG. 7 is a side view similar to FIG. 5, FIG. 6 showing yet anotherembodiment of a manual screed assembly with a different screed barassembly; and

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a portion of yet another embodiment of amanual screed assembly including an elevator mechanism having supportsfor supporting a weight to modify the downforce applied to an implementof the manual screed assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A manual screed assembly 10, shown in FIG. 1, includes a handle assembly12, a quick connect assembly 14, and screed bar assembly 16. The manualscreed assembly 10 is used by an operator who grips handles 18, 20 ofthe handle assembly 12 and moves the screed bar 16 over the surface of amaterial such as uncured concrete, gravel, sand, or the like, to bringthe material to a level grade, as is known in the art. A lower surface22 of the screed bar 16 is usually supported on one or more rails (notshown) which have been positioned to define the grade at which thescreed assembly 10 is used to define.

The quick connect assembly 14 solves multiple problems resulting inimproved efficiency in the screeding process. First, the quick connectassembly 14 permits the handle assembly 12 to be quickly connected to orremoved from the screed bar 16, allowing the user to quickly break downthe screed assembly 10 for transport, or to use the same handle assembly12 for different configurations of a screed bar, other than screed bar16, as will be discussed in further detail below. Second, the quickconnect assembly 14 is configured to permit the user to adjust handleassembly 12 through rotation about an axis 24, without the use of tools.By changing the pitch of handle simile 12 about the axis 24, a user mayadjust the handle assembly 12 and adapt it for the preferences of theparticular user and a particular application. Finally, quick connectassembly 14 is configured to permit a user to add one or more weights 26to the screed assembly 10 to increase the down pressure applied to thelower surface 22 of the screed bar 16. This allows a user to adapt thescreed assembly 10 to a particular application. For example, a hireddensity or viscosity material being moved by the screed assembly 10 mayrequire more downforce 28 that a material that has a lower density orlower viscosity.

The handle assembly 12 includes a frame 30 is formed to include acrossbar 32 that is gripped by a pair of clamp assemblies 34, 36 of thequick connect assembly 14. A first arm 38 extends from the crossbar 32to form the right hand handle 20. A second arm 40 extends from thecrossbar 32 to form the left-hand handle 18. The first arm 38 and secondarm 40 are secured together by a crossbeam 42 that provides rigidity tothe handle assembly 12. A leg 44 is secured to the second arm 40 by aclamp 46. The user utilizes a grip 48 to loosen or tighten the clamp 46and adjust the position of the leg 44 relative to the second arm 40. Theleg 44 may be adjusted to an out-of-the-way position during use of thescreed assembly 10, and placed in the position shown in FIG. 1 when thescreed assembly 10 is not being used, the leg 44 operating to supportthe handle assembly 12 so that the handles 18, 20 are maintained off ofthe ground when the screed assembly 10 is not in use.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the screed bar 16 includes a pair of brackets50, 52 that extend vertically above and upper surface 54 of andimplement 56 of the screed bar assembly 16. The quick connect assembly14 is secured to the brackets 50, 52 by lever screws 58, 60,respectively. Each of the clamp assemblies 34, 36 include a base 62 anda grip 64. A clamp screw 66 is used to move the grip 64 relative to thebase 62 to provide a clamping force on the crossbar 32 of the handleassembly 12, as will be discussed in further detail below. In theembodiment shown in FIG. 2, the screed assembly 10 is modified toinclude a pair of support posts 68, 70 which are connected to supportbases 72, 74 of the quick connect assembly 14. The support posts 68, 70extend upwardly to form receivers over which a second weight 26 may bepositioned to increase the downforce 28 that is transferred through thequick connect assembly 14 to the screed bar assembly 16.

Referring now to FIG. 3, the screed bar assembly 16 includes anH-bracket 76 which is secured to the implement 56 by a pair of bolts 78,80 the pass-through lower legs two, 84 of the H-bracket 76. The bolts78, 80 secure the H-bracket 76 to the implement 56 by the clampingaction of a pair of nuts 86, 88 which are secured to the bolts 78, 80respectively to secure the H-bracket 76 to the implement 56.

The quick connect assembly 14 includes a bracket 90 with legs 92, 94.Each leg 92, 94 is formed to include a respective slot 96, 98 which isreceived on a respective shaft 100, 102 of the respective lever screws60, 58 the shafts 100, 102 are each threaded and pass through theH-bracket 76 with a respective nut 104, 106 being received on the shafts100, 102. The lever screws 60, 58 include flanges 108, 110 that engagerespective washers 112 114 which are positioned between the flanges 108,110 and the respective legs 92, 94. The lever screws 60, 58 each includea handle on her 16, 118 which permit a user to rotate the lever screws60, 58 as the shafts 100, 100 to engage the nuts 104, 106 to clamp thebracket 90 to the H-bracket 76. The lever screws 60, 58 are configuredto permit a user to develop enough torque to manually secure the bracket90 to the H-bracket 76 without the need for tools.

The quick connect assembly 14 further includes a pair of bolts 124, 126that passed through the bracket 90 and secure the bases 62, 62 of therespective clamp assemblies 36, 34 to the bracket 90. Each bolt 124, oneor 26 secured by respective nut 128, 130. The shaft of each bolt 124,126 extends into an opening 132 formed in the grip 64 of each clampassembly 36, 34. The bracket 90 is formed to include two arms 120, 122which support respective weld nuts 134, 136 that are secured to the arms120, 122 respectively. A shaft 138 of each clamp screw 66 is received inthe weld nuts 134, 136. Each clamp screw 66 includes a handle 140 whicha user may actuate manually to draw the respective grip 64 closer to therespective base 62 to increase a clamping force exerted on the crossbar32.

Referring now to FIG. 4, the user may utilize the clamp screw 66 torelease the frame 30 relative to the quick connect assembly 14 to adjustthe handle assembly 12 to multiple positions about the axis 24. Asindicated by the arrow 142, the handle assembly 12 can be moved to aplurality of positions about the axis 24 and respective clamp assemblies34, 36 can be tightened to secure the position of the handle assembly 12relative to the quick connect assembly 14. In this way, the user mayadjust the position of the handle assembly 12 relative to the screed barassembly 16 to adjust the position to be ergonomically correct for theparticular user.

Referring again now FIG. 3, each of the support bases 72, 74 are formedwith female threads 150 that are configured to receive mail threads 152on supports 168, 170 such that the supports 168, 170 may be secured tothe bases 72, 74 and extend upwardly there from to provide additionalsupport for additional weights 26.

In another embodiment of manual screed assembly 210, the handle assembly12 and quick connect assembly 14 are secured to a screed bar assembly216. The screed bar assembly 216 includes an L-shaped bracket 218 thatis secured to an implement 220. The bracket 90 of the quick connectassembly 14 is supported on the shafts 100, 102 of the lever screws 58,60 and clamped to the L-shaped bracket 218 in the manner described abovewith regard to the embodiment of FIGS. 1-5. The L-shaped bracket issecured to the implement 220 by a pair of lag bolts 222 that arethreaded into a block 224 that is positioned in an elongate channel 226of the implement 220. The lag bolts 222 secure the L-shaped bracket tothe top surface 228 of the implement 220. In yet another embodiment ofmanual screed assembly 312 shown in FIG. 7, the quick connect assembly14 is secured to an H-bracket 76 which is secured to an L-shapedimplement 316 by a pair of bolts 318, 318 and nuts 320, 320, to form ascreed bar assembly 316. It should be understood that the quick connectassembly 14 and handle assembly 12 can quickly be removed from eitherthe screed bar assembly 16, screed bar assembly 216, or screed barassembly 316 reattached to one of the other screed bar assemblies 16,216, or 316, by quickly releasing the lever screws 58, 60. This permitsa user to interchange the various screed bar assemblies 16, 216, 316 asconditions change during the screening process. In addition, the clampassemblies 34, 36 permit quick adjustment without the use of tools ofthe pitch of the handle assembly 12 relative to the quick connectassembly 14 and thereby, the respective screed bar assembly 16, 216,316. Still further, depending on changing conditions, a user may quicklyadapt the quick connect assembly 14 to add or remove additional weights26 two very the downforce 28 exerted on the respective screed barassembly 16, 216, 360.

Referring now to FIG. 8, a manual screed assembly 440 includes a screedblade assembly 416 and a manipulator 412 which provides lateralstability to the user by providing struts 402 and 404 that extend from ahandle 406 and connect to an elevator bracket 408 that spans between twoquick-release supports 410, 410 that are spaced apart and are configuredto secure the elevator bracket 408 to an implement 420. The struts 402,404 are pivotably coupled to the ends of the elevator bracket 408 andare configured to rotate relative to the elevator bracket 408 about anaxis 422. The struts 402 and 404 are also each pivotably coupled to acollar 424 that is positioned on a cylindrical shaft 426 of the handle406. The collar 424 is slidable along the shaft 426. The struts 402, 404rotate relative to the collar 424 about an axis 456.

The manipulator 412 includes a bracket 144 that permits the attitude ofa cup 428 to be adjusted about an axis 430 to change the relative anglebetween a handle 406 relative to the implement 420. A base 432 issecured to a plate 434 of the elevator bracket 408. The elevator bracket408 has two notches 436, 438 that are received on respective leverscrews 60, 58 on the respective quick-release supports 410, 410. Thelever screws 60, 58 clamp the elevator bracket 408 to the supports 410,410. The elevator bracket 408 is formed to include two support bases 72,74 to support the weight 26. Similar to the embodiments of FIGS. 1-7,the support bases 72, 74 are configured to receive additional supports168, 170 to support additional weights 26.

Although certain illustrative embodiments have been described in detailabove, variations and modifications exist within the scope and spirit ofthis disclosure as described and as defined in the following claims.

1. A manual screed assembly comprises a screed bar assembly, a quickrelease assembly releasably coupled to the screed bar assembly, thequick release assembly permitting the removal of the quick releaseassembly from the screed bar assembly without the use of tools, and ahandle assembly releasably secured to the quick release assembly, thequick release assembly configured to release the handle assembly toallow the orientation of the handle assembly relative to the quickrelease assembly to be adjusted without the use of tools.
 2. The manualscreed assembly of claim 1, wherein the manual screed assembly comprisessupports for supporting weights over the screed bar assembly to vary thedownforce applied to the screed bar assembly.
 3. The manual screedassembly of claim 1, wherein the quick release assembly is clamped tothe screed bar assembly.
 4. The manual screed assembly of claim 3,wherein the quick release assembly is clamped to the screed bar assemblyby lever screws.
 5. The manual screed assembly of claim 4, wherein thequick release assembly includes a plurality of slots that engage thelever screws when the lever screws are engaged with the screed barassembly.
 6. The manual screed assembly of claim 5, wherein the handleassembly includes a crossbar that is engaged with the quick releaseassembly, the crossbar positioned in at least one clamp that is manuallyadjustable, without the use of tools, to clamp the handle assemblyrelative to the quick release assembly.
 7. The manual screed assembly ofclaim 1, wherein the handle assembly includes a crossbar that is engagedwith the quick release assembly, the crossbar positioned in at least oneclamp that is manually adjustable, without the use of tools, to clampthe handle assembly relative to the quick release assembly.
 8. Themanual screed assembly of claim 1, wherein the quick release assemblycomprises a plurality of support bases for supporting weights over thescreed bar assembly to vary the downforce applied to the screed barassembly.
 9. The manual screed assembly of claim 8, wherein the supportbases are configured to removably receive additional supports to extendupwardly from the support bases to increase the capacity of the numberof weights that may be position on the quick release assembly.